hus free himself. He knew that, handicapped as he was, though he
worked feverishly and incessantly, the task would demand many hours of
furious toil.

After a while the wind arose and re-kindled his dying fire into life.
The sparks flew up and the flames ran over the dry moss toward him.
Now there was added the dread of being burnt alive. But he worked his
feet violently and succeeded in roughening the ground sufficiently to
turn the fire so, that it passed on either side of him, and though it
continued beyond the wooden trap, eventually died down.

Then he went on with his cutting, but night came on before he had dug
into the log more than a few inches. Growing faint, he rested awhile,
and later fell asleep. When he awoke, he discovered a full-grown black
bear sitting upon its haunches watching him. He shouted to drive the
beast away, but, strange to say, the noise did not frighten the bear,
for several times it got up and attempted to reach the syrup on the
trap. When the captive renewed his shouting and kicking, the bear
merely stepped back, sat down, and persisted in maintaining its
fearsome watch all night. Nevertheless, the half-breed was afraid to
stop shouting, so he kept it up at intervals all night long. When,
however, dawn came, the bear went away.

At sunrise Marasty renewed his efforts to escape, and though his hand
was now blistered and sore, he worked for several hours. Then thirst
attacked him; and he dug in the ground, but without avail, in the hope
of finding moisture. Again he turned to the cutting of the log, but
soon exhaustion weakened his exertions. Night came on again and with
it came the bear; but this time he was glad to see the brute, for its
presence made him feel less lonely and drove away despair. This time,
too, the bear sat around in such a friendly way, that Marasty felt
relieved enough to sing some hymns and do a little praying; but when he
began to sing a second time, the big black beast lost patience, got up
and walked away, much to the regret of the imprisoned hunter.

In the morning the now almost lifeless Marasty heard in the distance
the voice of his brother calling his name; but though he shouted wildly
in answer, no response came, for the wind was blowing in the wrong
direction, and defeated his attempt to benefit by the help that was so
near. Later, the unhappy man swooned.

About noon the brother, finding the sufferer's trail, arrived upon the
scene, removed